### On the day of the company’s IPO, the CEO—my fiancé—was supposed to make our relationship official. I thought this would finally be the moment I got the recognition I deserved. But during her big speech, right in front of the entire company, she called someone else on stage. Her real love. A man who had only been with the company for three months. Standing side by side, their fingers intertwined, Jason—her smug, ever-present shadow—looked right at me from the stage and raised an eyebrow, a cruel smirk curling at his lips. “I didn’t plan to make our relationship public so soon,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery. “But… someone around me has been so eager for me to make things official. So, here we are.” My girfriend turned to him, her face glowing with affection. She didn’t deny it. She didn’t call out his lie. If anything, her eyes were filled with love, like she couldn’t care less about how humiliating this was—for me. And then, as if that weren’t enough, she announced that she was giving my shares—the ones I’d worked years to earn—to her “true love.” “Without you, this company wouldn’t exist,” she said, her voice dripping with gratitude as she handed over everything I had built. “I hope, Jason, that from now on, you’ll lead our team to even greater success!” The two of them stood there, playing their perfect little act, while the crowd below erupted into applause, cheering them on like they were the perfect couple. And me? I just sat there, quiet, unmoving. I didn’t argue. I didn’t cry. I simply watched. Let them celebrate. Let them enjoy their moment. Because I want to see how they plan to “achieve greater success” without me—this company’s biggest investor and the one who built it from the ground up. Let’s see how far they get without me. 0
When Penelope handed over the stock transfer documents to Jason, I was completely stunned. For a moment, my ears rang so loudly I thought I was dreaming. But as the applause erupted around me, I realized this was all too real. “Wait, what’s going on? Wasn’t Evan supposed to be her fiancé? How did it suddenly become Jason?” “Jason’s only been with the company for what, three months? And now he’s hit the jackpot? Man, he’s set for life now!” “Exactly. Poor Evan, though. Years of blood, sweat, and tears, and he walks away with nothing.” The applause died down, replaced by hushed whispers rippling through the crowd. But none of them made any effort to hide their gossip from me—the person they were clearly talking about. I knew what they were doing. They wanted to humiliate me, to curry favor with the new shareholder. Jason, ever the opportunist, wasted no time. He looked over at me, tugging on Penelope’s sleeve like a child begging for attention. “Evan, are you… upset with Penelope’s decision? Or maybe you’re not happy about me getting the shares?” His voice was dripping with fake humility, like he was trying to play the victim. “I know I haven’t been with the company long, so it’s understandable if you’re not impressed with me. But I’ll work hard to earn your respect. I just hope you can be genuinely happy for me today.” Jason’s little monologue left me speechless. I hadn’t said a word. I was just sitting there quietly, and yet he was acting like I was the villain in his story. It was almost laughable. “Which eye of yours saw me not being happy for you?” I finally asked, my tone calm and sharp. “Evan, what’s with your attitude?” Penelope cut in coldly, her voice laced with irritation. “Jason was just being considerate, and this is how you respond? Don’t forget—he’s your superior now.” Her words hit me harder than I expected, but it wasn’t the first time she’d sided with him. “Superior? A guy who can’t even get basic data right? I’d rather not.” “Shut up!” Penelope snapped, her voice icy. “The last time there was a mistake, it was you who handed Jason the wrong files. He only made an error because of you! Stop blaming others for your carelessness. Why don’t you try taking responsibility for once?” I stared at her silently, the woman I had loved for five years. Her face was the same, but her words… they cut deeper than any knife ever could. In the two months Jason had been with the company, he’d made countless mistakes—three major ones that cost us contracts, and more minor errors than I could count. Every time, Penelope somehow found a way to shift the blame onto me. And now, she was still convinced Jason was some sort of genius. That I wasn’t even worthy of being in the same room as him. Jason, of course, played his part perfectly. He tugged on Penelope’s hand, his voice trembling with fake guilt. “Penelope, please don’t fight with him because of me. I’m just a newbie—if Evan’s upset, it’s my fault. I don’t want to cause trouble.” Penelope’s expression softened immediately. She turned to me, her tone sharp but smug. “Evan’s upset? He’s the one who’s caused the company millions in losses because of his constant mistakes. He should be grateful I’m even letting him keep his position.” She crossed her arms, her voice dripping with condescension. “If he can’t handle it, he’s free to leave. Though let’s be honest—there’s no other company that would offer him the kind of salary and role I’ve given him here.” Her words made me laugh. She really thought this company’s success was all because of her? She didn’t know—or maybe she’d forgotten—that this company only went public because of my connections. Because of my money. And now that she’d gotten what she wanted, she thought she could just toss me aside and take all the credit? I stood up slowly. Jason immediately went pale, his face tightening as though he thought I was about to hit him. Penelope’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why do you both look so nervous?” I said, my voice light but mocking. “If Jason’s so talented, it doesn’t make sense for him to stay in a subordinate role. How about we switch? He can have my position as CEO.” The room fell dead silent. Everyone stared at me, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief. After all, everyone here knew the truth: this company had been built from the ground up by me. I had sacrificed years of my life, pouring everything I had into turning Penelope’s dream into a reality. When the company was nothing but a tiny startup, I was the one working late nights, making every decision, finding every investor. I did it all because I wanted to be her foundation, her support. And now that the company was thriving, everyone assumed Penelope would finally recognize my efforts. That this would be the moment she lifted me up beside her. But instead, she wanted me to hand over everything I’d built. I thought back to the night before the IPO. Penelope had curled up in my arms, talking excitedly about our future. About how we’d finally be able to live openly as a couple. I had stayed awake the whole night, unable to contain my excitement. But when the big day came, the future she had promised wasn’t mine. It was Jason’s. I finally understood: it wasn’t that Penelope didn’t like public displays of affection or grand romantic gestures. She just didn’t like me. The realization was bitter, but it was freeing too. “Fine,” I said simply, brushing past them. Penelope froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. She had expected me to fight, to cling to what little dignity I had left. Instead, I walked out of the room without looking back. Just as I stepped outside, a sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up to the curb. The driver got out, bowing slightly as he opened the door for me. “Young Master,” he said respectfully, “your father asked me to remind you—it’s time to stop playing around. You need to come home and take over the family fortune.” I smirked, stepping into the car without a second glance at the company behind me. Let’s see how far Penelope and Jason get without me. 0
I’m the only son of the world’s richest man—a name that people can only dream of being associated with. The first time I met Penelope was at the hospital. Her mother had been in a car accident and was in the middle of a messy legal battle with a trust fund kid. As her mom’s attending physician, I got to know Penelope over time. There was something about her resilience, her unshakable determination, that drew me in. But in the end, her mother didn’t make it. Since then, Penelope had harbored a deep distrust of anyone with wealth and privilege. When I decided to pursue her, I made the choice to hide my identity. Later, when Penelope told me she wanted to start her own business, I didn’t hesitate—I quit my job at the hospital and turned down my father’s invitation to return home and take over the family empire. I followed her into the unknown, ready to help her chase her dreams. For five years, my entire life revolved around her. I thought those five years of effort would finally pay off. I thought I’d finally get to hold the hand of the woman I loved, openly and proudly. But when it mattered most, Penelope let me go. “Sir, we’ve arrived.” The driver’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. After stepping out of the car, I told Uncle Ming to head back. “Once I’ve dealt with everything here, I’ll come home,” I said firmly. When I got back home, the first thing I saw was the cake. It was still sitting on the dining table, completely melted. I had bought it to celebrate tonight—what was supposed to be the night we made our relationship public. Now, it just felt like a slap in the face. Fury bubbled up inside me. Before I realized it, I was flipping the table, smashing the cold, untouched food and the ruined cake to the floor. I didn’t stop there. I started packing my things, determined to leave this house filled with memories of her. Just as I opened the closet, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Jason. I opened it to find a photo. In the picture, Penelope was lying on white bedsheets, completely naked. Her face was flushed, and there were unmistakable marks on her neck. My grip on the phone tightened as rage coursed through me. Before Jason could delete it, I saved the photo and took a screenshot. Right on cue, the next message came: “Oops, sorry, Evan. Sent it to the wrong person. Hope you don’t take it the wrong way.” I let out a bitter laugh. He wasn’t even trying to hide it anymore. Ever since Jason joined the company, he’d been sending me photos of him and Penelope. At first, it was little things—a picture of them holding hands, an arm around her shoulders. But this? This was a whole new level. If this had been a few months ago, I probably would’ve stormed into the hotel and demanded answers from Penelope. But now? I didn’t feel anything. I didn’t reply to Jason’s message. What was the point? I was leaving tomorrow, and it wasn’t like we’d ever cross paths again. Without a second thought, I blocked him and deleted the entire conversation. I booked the earliest flight out for the next afternoon. After packing, I grabbed my suitcase and checked into a hotel near the airport. As soon as I settled into my room, my phone started ringing. It was Penelope. I ignored the first call. And the second. And the third. But by the time she called for the fifth or sixth time, I caved. Out of some leftover sense of loyalty—or maybe just pity—I finally answered. “Evan,” she snapped the moment I picked up. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Her tone was sharp, accusatory. “The shares? That was my decision. Jason had nothing to do with it. If you had a problem, you should’ve said something then and there instead of acting like a petty coward afterward!” I stayed silent, letting her rant. “Acting all gracious in front of the employees—who were you trying to fool? And now you’re throwing a fit over a single photo? What are you, a child? Listen to me carefully: you’d better apologize to Jason. If you don’t, don’t blame me for ignoring you from now on!” Her words were so absurd, I actually laughed. A single photo? She really believed Jason’s lies without a second thought. “Apologize?” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Penelope, if anyone’s going to be apologizing, it’s you. Do it now, and maybe you’ll lose a little less in the end.” “Are you delusional?” she screamed. “You’re out of your mind! Fine, don’t apologize. But let’s see if you’re still so smug when you show up at the office tomorrow!” She hung up before I could respond. I didn’t care. What she didn’t know was that my resignation letter had already been sent to HR. By the time she showed up at work tomorrow, it would be sitting on her desk. And as for her company? I wasn’t going back. 0
The next morning, I was jolted awake by Penelope’s incessant calls. “Evan, why aren’t you at work yet?” In the past, whenever we fought, I’d always wait for her at the office, staying late until she cooled off and finally came back. And when she did, I’d apologize first, find ways to cheer her up, and pretend like nothing ever happened. “Are you still mad about yesterday? It’s just some shares, Evan. I’m the majority shareholder—do you really think I’d shortchange you? You’re with me, aren’t you?” Her tone was casual, as if she thought she could brush the whole thing under the rug. “The company is at a critical stage right now. You think it’s just about wining and dining people to secure deals? Jason’s uncle is well-connected—he’s a high-ranking official in the Department of Land Development. Someone like him won’t help us out of kindness alone. I need leverage to keep him on our side.” I knew about Jason’s uncle. For someone like Penelope—who always wanted a piece of every pie—he was the perfect connection. What surprised me, though, was that she was actually explaining herself to me. Maybe a part of me would’ve understood her logic before. But after everything she’d done, I couldn’t justify her sleeping her way to resources. “Evan, we’ve come so far together. Can’t you try to understand my position?” Her voice softened, something I rarely heard from her. After all, I was always the one who gave in first. Before I could respond, I heard her office door open on the other end of the line. There was a pause, followed by the sharp edge of her anger. “Evan, you’re resigning? Who gave you permission to leave? I’m not approving your resignation! Where are you right now? Get back here immediately!” “I’m not coming back,” I said coolly. “If you think Jason is such a valuable asset, then stick with him.” “Evan, what is that supposed to mean? Tell me where you are right now!” Her voice grew more frantic, but then I heard the familiar ding of an elevator in the background. “Penelope, where are you rushing off to?” Jason’s voice. “Track all flights and train schedules immediately,” Penelope barked. “Evan’s trying to quit. We need to stop him.” Jason hesitated for a moment, then smoothly took her phone from her hand. “Evan,” he said, his tone calm and measured, “is this about me? Are you leaving because of me?” He sounded so sincere, but I knew better. “I know you don’t like me,” he continued. “You’ve never approved of me getting the shares, and if it bothers you that much, I’ll give them all back. I just don’t want you making rash decisions.” “You’ve been with the company for years. Now that we’ve gone public, how will it look to the employees if you quit? You’ll cause unnecessary speculation and damage Penelope’s reputation.” Penelope’s voice cut him off sharply. “This has nothing to do with you, Jason. Stay out of it. Evan, I’ll handle this myself. You need to stay right where you are. This company can survive without anyone—but not without you.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Just as I was about to hang up, Penelope spoke again. “Evan, Jason just apologized to you. What more do you want?” “Apologized?” I scoffed. “And one little apology is supposed to justify taking what’s rightfully mine?” “Yours?” she snapped. “This company belongs to me. I can give shares to whoever I want. What’s yours, exactly? Jason was right—you’ve been sitting in your position as CEO for years, resenting me, haven’t you? Were you planning to push me aside and take over as chairman?” “Wouldn’t I deserve it?” I shot back. “Do you think you’d be where you are today without me?” “Evan, that’s enough,” Jason interjected, faking a sympathetic tone. “Sure, you’ve worked hard, but let’s not forget that Penelope’s leadership is what made this company thrive. You were just following her vision.” “Jason, stop wasting your breath on someone like him,” Penelope said coldly. “People like Evan are never satisfied, no matter how much you give them.” She took a deep breath and continued, her voice icy. “Fine. You want to leave? Go ahead. I approve your resignation. Get out of my sight and don’t ever let me see you again.” I could hear the faint smirk in Jason’s voice as he added, “Are you sure that’s wise? Evan has been by your side for so long.” “Don’t worry,” Penelope replied dismissively. “I know Evan better than anyone. He’ll come crawling back. He’s just throwing a tantrum because he doesn’t like my decisions. Give it three days—he’ll be begging me to take him back.” That was the moment I realized Penelope had always known how much I loved her. She’d always known I couldn’t let her go. And yet, she still chose to hurt me over and over again. For the first time, I felt nothing for her. No anger. No sadness. Just… nothing. The call abruptly ended with a sharp beep. But just before the line went dead, I heard someone in the background frantically say, “Penelope, we have a problem! Several of our major investors just pulled out. Multiple projects are on hold, and we’re looking at an estimated loss of $300 million!”
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